WHV Announcement: Double Features for the first time ever on Blu-ray

Wow, I wonder what Amazon's price will be.  It will also be interesting to see if they put both films on a BD50 or if they use a separate disc for each film (my preference). 

I hope Frantic will finally be available in widescreen.

I think each film will be on BD25 discs, but than again, it might be a BD50 disc.





Crawdaddy

^   I was wondering if it is one or two discs too, and if "everything" is the same as on the individual disc releases (if there is one). More details would be nice...

A WHV Double Feature has been on sale in Canada since May: L.A. Confidential/Training Day. Different package art scheme on this one.

[I actually tried to start a thread on just this topic yesterday, but for some reason it failed and I gave up. So thanks for doing it...]
Edited by CraigF - 1/4/10 at 6:56pm

Sorry - I should've said I'm glad Frantic will finally be available in widescreen - of course releasing a Blu-ray in the wrong OAR would be odd. Anyway, I always thought this film was poorly treated on DVD being that its one of the best suspense thriller I've ever seen. Perhaps its because of the director's reputation?

 I just read over at blu-ray.com that with the exception of the Dirty Harry release, these double features will be on one disc. Not sure how I feel about that. We definitely could see examples of over compression from this and they will probably leave off special features. It could be on a release by release basis so we'll have to see but I'm not very excited about this at all.

I store my DVDs alphabetically by title, so it bugs me when two unrelated titles are released as a double feature, since I'd prefer to store them separately.  But when it comes to series titles that would go together anyway, I've always loved double-feature DVDs, so I'm glad to see them coming to Blu-ray and hope we see more from all the studios. 

Personally, I prefer to have both films on a single disc. I think it's simpler and more convenient.

A couple 2-hour films on BD50s with no bonus features shouldn't have compression issues.

I'm not really worried about over compression and features.  These are most likely films that they would have put on BD25s and as older catalog that were designed to be "budget" releases would not have had much in the way of special features.  I just don't like the added step of putting in a single disc and having to choose the movie I want to watch.

Yup, we'll have to see. Some of the DVD multiple-features from WB were extremely compromised PQ-wise...but that's DVD and there are all sorts of ways transfers could be squeezed, and multiple transfer versions done over years too. Hard to imagine that WB wouldn't use the same transfers as on the single-title BDs, since they are quite new. I am hardly interested in buying "budget" quality transfers on BD, that defeats the point of HD for me...budget price is a different matter. Also appreciate the slight shelf space saving, but if no extras I'll need to keep the DVDs anyway...

I thought WHVs direction was supposed to be to give MORE content for BD purchasers, and less for renters. I guess this is one way, but not what I had expected.

No, I think it was just never all that successful here in the States.  At the time the DVD came out, Warner had quite a few titles that they released in 4:3.  My guess is that they didn't think the economics would support a new 16:9 NTSC transfer (they did do a PAL 16:9 DVD for International markets). 

I've never seen the film, so I'm looking forward to it.

I only wish that Sony had thought to price their double feature of CAPOTE and IN COLD BLOOD this way. I'm not even willing to pay Amazon discount prices just to get IN COLD BLOOD, as much as I'd like to own it. $54.99 list? You gotta be kidding! The Warner Bros packages at least have a fair price tag.

I hope that warner bros would consider selling ladyhawke in bluray as a double feature.
universalHD played frantic a while back. looked great in HD. it was in the proper widescreen format unlike the dvd.
Jacob

At least neither of those were already in release for a couple years.  Can't say the same for their bonehead-move boxset that debuted Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on BD (here in the US) though.

_Man_

They're priced at 17.49

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy
 

I think it would have been a lot more considerate to either put Magnum Force and the Enforcer on a double, since Dirty Harry is already available as a single Blu disc, or to make ALL of the films available as single discs to avoid the double dip. Whenever studios do this kind of thoughtless re-packaging, it's a real poke in the eye to the consumer. Sony has been the worst so far and it's sad to see WB following suit.

The pedant in me insists that I point out the fact that the BD of The Dirty Dozen contained its abysmal sequel as an extra.

Steve W

Michael O just reviewed a double feature not listed here.  Funny Farm and Spies like Us.  He is based in Canada, and I can only find it on Amazon.ca for a 2/26 release date.  We are trying to see if it is going to be released only in Canada for some reason.  I hope it is available in the US as I want this title more than any of others.  I would love to retire my pan-n-scan DVDs.

I've actually seen the Miss Congeniality set packaged as separate Blu-rays. Walmart carries the Miss Congeniality 1/Miss Congeniality 2 set as simply a bundled set, not a double feature.

Are you sure they were blu-rays?  The BDs aren't even out until Tuesday.

I was at Wal-Mart tonight and several of these are out for $19.95.  The packaging is different than the photos from Ron's first post. 

They have other double features from Warner as well as Fox and Lionsgate for that price tag.  I went ahead and picked up CARRIE/CHILD'S PLAY one

I'll have to go check it out.  I would much rather have separate cases.

I hope Warner considers a double feature of Treasure Island (1934) / Treasure Island (1990). Especially since this may be the only way we will get the 90 version on (pressed) disc.

Adam, I'm sure ... I was just out there a few days ago. I ended up picking up The Transporter and Serenity.

I had the same concern and did a quick search around..

"Frantic" will be released on WS for the first time ever on Region 1,

I found this post over at another forum..

"Both films are presented in widescreen for the first time since the laserdisc releases. Both also are listed as having DTS-HD MA 2.0 English tracks."

and more confirmation here..

www.compare.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews49/presumed_innocent_frantic_blu-ray.htm

Finally I will be able to retire my old DVD and see this film in WS ..